The Virginia Distributed Solar Alliance is organized as a trade association under Section 501(c)(6) of the Internal Revenue Code to advance the interests of Virginia’s distributed energy resources (“DER”) industry through policy advocacy, regulatory engagement, public education, and member collaboration.
Members include distributed solar, storage, and related businesses; public entities seeking to implement or advance DERs in Virginia; non-profits supporting DERs in Virginia; DER customers in Virginia; and related stakeholders.
The VA-DSA was formed in 2013 to protect the right of all Virginians to access affordable solar power without high costs due to unnecessary restrictions. Since then, we have expanded our focus to remove barriers to all forms of local, small-scale clean energy produced near where it’s used in communities across Virginia.
What We Do
VA-DSA is currently supporting the work of Virginia’s new Distributed Energy Resources Task Force.
In the past, we have also led the fight against interconnection barriers erected by electric utilities through regulatory action at the Virginia State Corporation Commission, fought to streamline permitting for rooftop solar projects by local building officials through proposed changes to the Virginia Building Code, and supported efforts to increase the value of Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs) by advancing efforts to encourage data centers to purchase Virginia Distributed Generation SRECs and to increase the “carve-out” for Distributed Generation in Virginia’s Renewable Portfolio Standard through legislation.
Membership
Membership is open to individuals and organizations that support the spread of distributed solar and other distributed energy resources in Virginia.
If you’d like to join us, fill out our Membership Application Form.
Leadership Team and Affiliations
- Tony Smith, Chair and Co-founder
President and Co-founder of Secure Solar Futures - Ruth Amundsen, Treasurer
President of Norfolk Solar Qualified Opportunity Zone Fund - Alden Cleanthes, Legislative Director
Co-founder of Norfolk Solar - Glen Besa, Co-founder
Retired VA Chapter Director Sierra Club - Ivy Main, Co-founder
Co-chair of Renewable Energy for Virginia Sierra Club - Susan Stillman, Co-founder
Co-chair of Renewable Energy for Virginia Sierra Club - Aaron Sutch, Co-founder
Atlantic SE Region Director Solar United Neighbors - Erik Curren, Marketing Director
Marketing Director for Secure Solar Futures - Scott Sklar, Solar Ambassador
President, the Stella Group - Cliona Robb, Legal Counsel
Partner with ThompsonMcMullan P.C. - Trieste Lockwood, VA-DSA Lobbyist
President, Lockwood Strategies - Emmett Hanger, VA-DSA Lobbyist
Retired Virginia State Senator and Chair of Senate Finance Committee
Volunteer Organizations (partial list)
